On June 15 at 7:35 PM, the 15th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL) continues as Zhejiang host Changchun Yatai. The two head coaches are familiar foes, having clashed twice in the China League One when Xie Hui led Nantong Zhiyun against Zhejiang’s Joel隋 in 2021. From 2022 to 2023, Xie Hui’s Dalian Ren’ai faced Zhejiang under Joel’s guidance four more times.
Zhejiang have had a steady performance over recent seasons, maintaining stability despite the league’s turbulent times. Their tactics and style of play have matured, and they currently sit in 6th place with 22 points after 14 rounds (7 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses), although they trail the leaders Shanghai Shenhua by 14 points. A realistic goal for this season would be securing an Asian competition spot. However, challenges persist, such as slow progress in equity reform, lack of team spirit, and a limited fan base. Survival and how to survive with quality remain pressing issues.
Since the managerial change, Changchun Yatai have seen a significant boost in morale and improved results. With 3 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses, they have 13 points. They’ve managed to escape the relegation zone, but only by a slender 3-point margin. Failure to accumulate points before the halfway point could see them slip back with just one bad result. Time and space for Xie Hui to rectify issues are limited.
In their last match, Zhejiang lost 0:3 away to defending champions Shandong Taishan. Despite the defeat, they maintained composure, patiently moving the ball from defense to attack, relying heavily on their three foreign players. This strategy, which has been exploited in Asian competitions, has been their modus operandi in the CSL for several seasons. Depending on外援 goals for success, they hope for better fortune in the next match if it doesn’t work out.
Changchun Yatai drew 0:0 with Henan Songshan Longmen in a rain-soaked match in their previous fixture. While both teams picked up a point, the game lacked excitement. Over the past five matches (2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss), Changchun is in a gradual improvement phase. Nevertheless, the climb seems modest, and Xie Hui’s high-pressing philosophy hasn’t taken root yet.
In their 28 encounters, Zhejiang holds a slight advantage with 8 wins, 13 draws, and 7 losses. In the last four CSL meetings, Zhejiang couldn’t beat Changchun (3 draws, 1 loss). Playing at home, the record is evenly split with 4 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses for each side. This season, Zhejiang remains relatively unchanged but may struggle with their one-dimensional approach relying on three key foreigners. Meanwhile, Changchun is likely to battle for survival, with significant squad changes and an aging issue.
Both teams are relatively injury-free. Zhejiang’s foreign trio of Leonardo, Ousseynou Ba, and Frank Acheampong are in good form. Xie Hui will need to devise a plan to disrupt their connection. During the break, Changchun played three friendly matches, focusing on training and identifying weaknesses. With a密集 schedule ahead, Xie must balance maintaining team performance while preventing fatigue-related injuries and maximizing point collection for a solid foundation going forward.
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